Harvest Thyme Homestead has grown out of a love for the simpler times of life. Its roots begin in a belief in one's self and that in time, the harvest of one's hard work will create a place called home.....with a few sheep, goats, chickens, cats, dogs, 2 miniature horses, & 3 alpacas added in for good company & fiber.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

This really big box was on my front porch when I came home from school today. This past Friday Zeilinger's called to tell me my roving and felt batting was ready to ship. It was $45 to ship it.......good grief, what were they shipping me??? Now please keep in mind in August I took 34 lbs of Cotswold and Shetland wool to the Michigan Fiber Show to get processed. This is my first endeavor in doing anything with my wool in all the years I have had sheep. But it is a goal of mine to learn to work with and appreciated my sheep for what the gift of wool they give.

Of course, I had no idea what or how much I would be getting back................

............so when I broke the tape seal imagine my surprise when I saw all of this!!!! All I thought was, "Now what the heck am I going to do with all of this?!" I am thinking I will be busy this winter.......let's see, first on the list is a spinning wheel from Santa, spinning classes, more felting classes..............yep, should be a busy winter!

This roving is from my fawn kat ewes fleeces.........I can't believe so soft it is and how well it cleaned up because I picked and picked ti ll I could pick no more so I was very pleased when I saw the roving and batting!!!

This is roving from my Black Cotswolds. Most the wool I took up went to roving and batting from the Cotswolds. I have had my Cotswolds longer than the Shetlands. I am pretty excited now that I finally have taken the first steps to making a true product from my little farm:) Its all a process but its getting there.

Jed is just concerned that I have not decided on who is in his breeding group this year as last year Jammer left him with only 3 girls. I don't want to hurt his feelings but I have not even thought about it...........maybe I will give him the year off........okay I should at least give him one girl so he doesn't hate on me; afterall, he is such a handsome, loveable kinda guy:)

Monday, October 12, 2009

Well, the month of October is not the Autumn weather I was hoping for. Its been a tad cold, grey, rainy, & basically depressing. I can deal with the cooler temps but at least give me some sun in October. The trees have pretty much been holding on to the green leaves too.

This maple tree in my front yard is the first of the maples to change colors. I have planted a lot of maples as I love their color in the Fall. Even the pin oaks and willow trees are still holding on to their green leaves.

During the week I had this brain fart to start planning for next spring so I started tilling up this area on the outside of my garden area. Sometimes I question my work ethic, "Why do I continually make more work for myself?" Must be those Hobby Farm and gardening magazines I subscribe too. Regardless of my personal issues, I am thinking of planting the corn and some pumpkins in this area as those two took up way too much area inside the picket fence. The chickens were quite content to do their part in Fall gardening also.

My parents came over on Saturday to help pull out all the dead plants. Now I've got to get the compost area started.

Things were looking pretty dead in the garden so my nephew and I decided to bring some life into the bare, raised beds.

My niece Gracie planted these sunflowers in August and they are doing quite well. I love the little sunflowers. They only grow about 2 feet high.......I am going to have to plant more of those next year. Does anyone have suggestions on what variety of garlic is good to plant now? Never planted garlic so I thought maybe I would give it a try.

And while I was busy fussing in the yard, the sheep and goats are content to hang out in the sun and catch a few rays of warmth. Harvest Thyme Rutland being one of them. He is really just a handsome boy! If I had to have a pick ram lamb this year, he would be the one in my opinion.

He greets in every morning with his baaing.......the best way to start of morning chores:)